Tag Archives: calculators

This is either the best thing to ever happen to tech school, shop/engineering courses, and applied mathematics, and maker spaces or it will go largely ignored in education.

You have to choose sides with the DEWALT Mobile Pro Calculator – do you think its necessary and helpful for your students to memorize formulas, conversions, and common reference measurements and values, or would you rather take the memorization time and errors away so you can spend more time doing real (ugly, scary, student-centered) stuff? [I know, like I really gave you a choice, eh?]

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

There is so much loaded in this app! It opens right to the main content screen and you find a scrolling menu on the lefthand side that seems to have all of the calculating options.

“Hmm. Pretty extensive,” you think. “Wonder when I’ll get to the in-app purchases.”

And then you keep scrolling. And keep scrolling. I wasn’t going to list all of the functions you get for FREE in the app because it’s a long list, but look at this!

Loan Compare

Notches/Holes, Joists

Notches/Holes, Studs

Wall Opening

Rough Opening

Studs

Volumes, Various Shapes

Areas, Various Shapes

Perimeters, Various Shapes

Pythagorean Theorem

Gross Profit Margin

Cost of Acquisition

Marketing ROI

Trim, Casing

Trim, Crown Molding

Trim, Running

Odd Shape, L

Odd Shape, U

Odd Shape, Multiple

The calc has templates AND overviews built in – Your students can pick up the concepts behind the templates along the way

Roof Gable

Stairs Landing Height

Baluster Spacing

Common Differences, Rafter

Rake Wall

Roof Underlayment

Rafter, Common and Jack

Roof Hip/Valley

Deck Footing Size

Roof Conversions

Deck Boards

Deck Load

Roof Shingles/Square

Roof Dormer Ridge Board

Stairs

Ohm’s Law

Floor Joist Span

Total Gross Wages

Deck Post

Calculator

Concrete Slab

Drywall, Total LF

Paint

Area Conversion

Auto Lease

Auto Loan

Concrete Bags

Date Conversion

Discount

Fuel Efficiency

Gravel/Stone

Length Conversion

Mass Conversion

Mileage Reimbursement

Mortgage

Compound Annual Growth

Percent Change

Sales Tax

Savings

[You can do it! Almost there!]

Seller’s Net

Temperature Conversion

Volume Conversion

Energy Conversion

Force Conversion

Power Conversion

Pressure Conversion

Velocity Conversion

This list does not even include the more specialized electrical, business, concrete, carpentry, landscaping, etc packs that you can add on.

VERDICT

Much like when students still need to know what to put into formulas on exams when they have formula sheets (statistics, geometry), whoever uses this calculator must still have abrain and know what they’re entering into the template and why.

If your goal is to assess students’ memorization of facts and figures and hand calculations, then this app isn’t for you. I were teaching engineering, electronics, or technical courses, I without a doubt would want my students to download this calculator to their favorite devices. If you are a math or science teacher that wants to explore more project-based learning, this app would answer a ton of your “what do we need to know” questions. If you aim to get your students solving real problems and applying real principals to their problem-solving toolbox, you should give this a try.

At the very least, download it for yourself! (or your favorite tradesman, handyman, or do-it-yourselfer)

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